Mustang Owners Club Australia Forum
Technical & General Discussion Area => Importing Cars & Parts - General Freight => Topic started by: jonrules12 on November 29, 2017, 06:51:21 pm
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Hey so I am looking at importing a Mustang to AUS from the US and I am currently looking at going with "American Muscle Cars" (http://www.americanmusclecars.com.au/).
So as a complete first timer I would not say no to some guidance.
First, is that service safe to use? I have heard about dodgy people doing this stuff and would like to avoid it if I could. If you have any suggestions of trusted places or people that do this
stuff let me know please! (:
Second, how would the pricing compare to just buying what is already on the Australian car market? Cause I see this rusted out shells on classifieds here and people are asking, and getting
heaps of money for them. At this stage I am looking in the realm of $25,000 AUD for the car to my door, is this high or low as far as averages go?
Finally, what kinda of trouble should I expect when it comes time to get a roadworthy and register it, or is that process different?
Cheers,
JonRules12
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Hi Tim and welcome! :hi:
You have asked quite a few questions there and the answers to some of them will depend on the year and model of Mustang you are looking to buy. With your budget, I would expect you are after a coupe rather than a fastback and probably not a highly optioned one with show quality paint and interior.
There are many pitfalls in importing a car from the US, regardless of whether you are doing it yourself or having an agent handle it all for you. I have no personal experience with American Muscle Cars neither have I heard anything good or bad said about them so you'll have to wait for others to comment.
Other possibilities for you to consider are Shermatt (a US car finding business run by an expat Aussie) or to contact barnett468 (an active forum member here based in the US who has been known to sell a Mustang or two) to see if he has any prospects on the books at the moment.
Good luck! :thumb:
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For a good coupe ,rust free and is a good car it will cost around $13-$15,000 US or more = about $18,000 - $20,000 Australian dollars or more . That's before any other costs and there are plenty of those and freight on top . Closer to $30 grand Aust I would say ,then on road costs and you own it and haven't even seen it ,touched it ,driven it . $25k Australian just doesn't work anymore for a good classic mustang at a landed price . Buy one hear is my advice .
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I was in the same boat as you a few years back. I searched and ended up at AMC talking to Graham. He made the whole thing painless and kept me informed through the whole process. He was prob a bit dearer than some of the others but it was one price!! No hidden extra's. Bit daunting handing over cash to somebody you don't know, but have no problem recommending AMC. Gave him the name and number of the guy in the USA He picked the car up and paid for it. Next call was when it was leaving the USA, next one was for the GST payment, and then a call to come to Adelaide to pick up my car!!. He also bought in all my parts that I needed. Have been using him over the last 8 years to bring motorbikes etc in with no problems. Totally recommend him and his crew. I will declare we have become friends with him over the years, but that was purely a bonus from our dealings. This is my personal Experience With American Muscle Cars. ( Pity he is a mopar guy ) LOL PS His containers are Asbestos free when they come into Australia now as he has it organized in the USA
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Hey, and thank you!
Yeah it will most likely be a 1966 coupe. Nothing special, inside and out most likely.
Alright! I will see what happens in the near future and if I get any good leads on the reliability of different services.
Thanks for the help, man!
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I was in the same boat as you a few years back. I searched and ended up at AMC talking to Graham. He made the whole thing painless and kept me informed through the whole process. He was prob a bit dearer than some of the others but it was one price!! No hidden extra's. Bit daunting handing over cash to somebody you don't know, but have no problem recommending AMC. Gave him the name and number of the guy in the USA He picked the car up and paid for it. Next call was when it was leaving the USA, next one was for the GST payment, and then a call to come to Adelaide to pick up my car!!. He also bought in all my parts that I needed. Have been using him over the last 8 years to bring motorbikes etc in with no problems. Totally recommend him and his crew. I will declare we have become friends with him over the years, but that was purely a bonus from our dealings. This is my personal Experience With American Muscle Cars. ( Pity he is a mopar guy ) LOL PS His containers are Asbestos free when they come into Australia now as he has it organized in the USA
Oh really? That is great news, I will probably give him a try then! (: Thank you for your recommendation man!
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Maybe a good idea to have a read though this first. 'Massive Asbestos Problem Brewing'
Just based on not knowing where the rules are from state to state in regards to this problem, I would be inclined to look in Australia for a decent car, even if you have to pay a bit more for a decent one.
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Hey Tim,
Welcome to the forum, you will find many knowledgeable people on here that will be of enormous assistance. I am certainly no expert but for your budget I would be having a very solid look at what’s available in Australia. Sure there’s got to be some excitement and intrigue in importing your own car but there is also an opportunity to take advantage of the $$ someone local has put into a car that was previously imported and restored in oz. When I purchased my car most told me that general resto work in oz is of a higher standard than the US. With the added bonus that you are probably only a cheap airfare away from inspecting the potential purchase yourself. Many local cars are known to members of this forum and most will provide candid opinions so the risk of purchase becomes much less.
Anyway Just my thoughts, good luck whichever way you go. There are no doubt many success stories from importing as well. Guys like Glenn70, BAC and 69candy have heaps of experience and are a great resource.
Cheers
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I have owned mustangs since 1981 and imported plenty since 1988 , and plenty of other cars from the USA . I have been to the USA plenty of times on buying trips , with my mates and the way things have gone this year with new laws and the Aussie dollar around 76 cents at best and even lower when you buy it , and the prices of classic mustangs in the USA ,I would be having a real good look here 1 st . Ask questions on here and we will answer them the best we can for you . By the way welcome to the forum . :thumb:
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I have owned mustangs since 1981 and imported plenty since 1988 , and plenty of other cars from the USA . I have been to the USA plenty of times on buying trips , with my mates and the way things have gone this year with new laws and the Aussie dollar around 76 cents at best and even lower when you buy it , and the prices of classic mustangs in the USA ,I would be having a real good look here 1 st . Ask questions on here and we will answer them the best we can for you . By the way welcome to the forum . :thumb:
Hey Tim,
Welcome to the forum, you will find many knowledgeable people on here that will be of enormous assistance. I am certainly no expert but for your budget I would be having a very solid look at what’s available in Australia. Sure there’s got to be some excitement and intrigue in importing your own car but there is also an opportunity to take advantage of the $$ someone local has put into a car that was previously imported and restored in oz. When I purchased my car most told me that general resto work in oz is of a higher standard than the US. With the added bonus that you are probably only a cheap airfare away from inspecting the potential purchase yourself. Many local cars are known to members of this forum and most will provide candid opinions so the risk of purchase becomes much less.
Anyway Just my thoughts, good luck whichever way you go. There are no doubt many success stories from importing as well. Guys like Glenn70, BAC and 69candy have heaps of experience and are a great resource.
Cheers
Thanks man! Yeah I have had a look around australia and most of the cars are rusted out project cars with no engine and trans that people are still firm on like $15,000 for. I guess for me it's more about getting something that is a solid starting ground being new to mustangs and restorations as a whole. Potentially as time goes on my budget will slowly go up and up so if I ever considered importing I might have more funds to achieve a solid goal. For now just still looking for direction and of course keeping an eye on my local and interstate classifieds.
Yeah I am trying to scour something on Aussie soil first. Just keeping an eye out for whats happening don't wanna miss something good!
Thanks for both the comments guys (:
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Interesting that I have the opposite problem I have a nice solid 68 coupe for sale(25K) and all I am getting is people who phone talk then say they can get one cheaper overseas or from an importer :ouch:
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Interesting that I have the opposite problem I have a nice solid 68 coupe for sale(25K) and all I am getting is people who phone talk then say they can get one cheaper overseas or from an importer :ouch:
In case the above was a little too subtle for the OP, here's the link to Cadd's car:
https://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Ford-Mustang-1968/SSE-AD-5016167/?Cr=2 (https://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Ford-Mustang-1968/SSE-AD-5016167/?Cr=2)
Pretty much on budget and looks nice from the pics!
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In case the above was a little too subtle for the OP, here's the link to Cadd's car:
https://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Ford-Mustang-1968/SSE-AD-5016167/?Cr=2 (https://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Ford-Mustang-1968/SSE-AD-5016167/?Cr=2)
Pretty much on budget and looks nice from the pics!
Thank you for the simplification. It's a smidgen ($2,000) over what I anticipated spending within the next few months. But, if Cadd still has the ad up in a while I might check it out!
Money and all that ;p
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:grin: subtle me :grin:
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At the moment with the asbestos inspections, I would be to worried about the hidden costs of removing anything that might have asbestos in it.
Brake shoes, clutch plate, head gaskets, exhaust gaskets.
Could be a drawn out process.
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Unless you are really tech savvy buy one here in OZ. I have been subsequently involved in a few imported mates' cars that were not much more than chicken wire and bog when they arrived here. Shiny paint hides many flaws in a lot of ex USA based cars. If you have somebody , who you trust absolutely implicitly inspect the car in the US, then perhaps take the risk but I would not. Photos alone and a "glowing" report are often proved to be total bunkum. I personally reckon $25K for a car delivered to your door ex USA is a pipe dream unless you are prepared to do a fair bit of work and bank raiding. Either way there are plenty of bods on here happy to help if things do go awry. Good luck, but do not go into this without doing lots of due diligence. :thumb:
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Unless you are really tech savvy buy one here in OZ. I have been subsequently involved in a few imported mates' cars that were not much more than chicken wire and bog when they arrived here. Shiny paint hides many flaws in a lot of ex USA based cars. If you have somebody , who you trust absolutely implicitly inspect the car in the US, then perhaps take the risk but I would not. Photos alone and a "glowing" report are often proved to be total bunkum. I personally reckon $25K for a car delivered to your door ex USA is a pipe dream unless you are prepared to do a fair bit of work and bank raiding. Either way there are plenty of bods on here happy to help if things do go awry. Good luck, but do not go into this without doing lots of due diligence. :thumb:
Mmmm I guess I have a lot of thinking to do. I guess the good thing is that there are never a shortage of Mustangs in America so bound to an import ready to go if I decide to go down that road. Thanks for your help! (:
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I guess the good thing is that there are never a shortage of Mustangs in America
Only true if you have a decent and realistic budget to start with and deeper pockets.
It's getting very hard to find decent Mustangs at hopeful budget prices because they are so popular over there too, the vast majority of owners are up with the play and know what they have.
And the current US-AUS $ exchange rate has made things tougher this end.
Do your homework on import costs which include import approval, shipping, insurance, local freighting both ends, GST, inspections, customs and quarantine clearances, plus engineering assessment here, repairs/upgrades for local regs, and state registration, and perhaps asbestos removal.
The reality is that this is 2017 not 2007 and just AUS$25K won't get you much of a usable driving car in reasonable condition by the time it's imported, complied and registered, if anything at all. I suggest you hold off and save a bit more.
My 2c worth is that if you don't know your Mustangs then best get local advice and buy local. Take advantage of others' risks and hard work, or you risk buying a polished turd from overseas that once here could cost you many thousands of $$$ to put right. Lots of people even those reasonably car-savvy have fallen into that unfortunate predicament.
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I have to agree with the general jist of what the guys are saying here . A friend imported a 66 last year , through a dealer, had it sighted in the states , got photos .
Photos looked great .
Bucket of crap when he went to pick it up from Adelaide
Car never went home with him.
. Unless you have the knowledge to ask all the right questions And trust the guy looking at it it’s a massive risk.
I would take advantage of the ones in Australia for sale and save all the trouble.
Good luck anyway with what ever track you choose to go with :smile01:
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If I was you with $25K to spend and I liked the look of Cadd's car listed at $27K, I would seriously think about having a chat with him to see if we could work something out. As mentioned several times in this thread, you will save hassle and money in the long run if you can find something locally.
The idea of bringing something in from the US is a romantic notion but the reality is a hard slog with a big chance of massive disappointment.
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I paid $25,000US for my car. After shipping, taxes, GST and agents fees it cost $50,200U landed.
The inspection wasn't worth a pinch of ..... Major chassis rust (holes) which was easilly visible if he bothered to look. I am fortunate that I can do repairs myself. If I had to pay for them it would have cost a fortune. There are some real horror stories out there about imports so if you go down that path make sure you have good refernces for the broker.
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If I was you with $25K to spend and I liked the look of Cadd's car listed at $27K, I would seriously think about having a chat with him to see if we could work something out. As mentioned several times in this thread, you will save hassle and money in the long run if you can find something locally.
Yeah at this stage buying locally is probably the best move. But also not really an option, considering I live in the ACT and there are not really very many cars like that here. Even less for sale. So locally is more like 'in Australia already'.
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not really an option, considering I live in the ACT and there are not really very many cars like that here.
With the size of the pool of vehicles in Australia you have to be willing to travel.
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The key is to get knowledgeable people to inspect the cars as they know what to look for so you don't get any nasty surprises later on (like I did).
If you see something, post it up and there may be someone who knows the car, can inspect or knows someone who can inspect it for you.
We have a guy down here in SA that has told us about some nightmares on the market (ie tonnes of bog, no VIN'S, no import approval etc).
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I’ve done Brisbane to Adelaide twice for car deals ,best part of the whole thing is the journey back home with your newly purchased car . A couple of plane tickets with a mate and it’s a nice little holiday.
For what ever reason cars and utes seem to be dearer in S.A and a good deal requires traveling.
Our power is pretty dam expensive too haha , but best find another forum to winge about that !
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I have to say that Cadd's car looks pretty nice! And I really like the colour too. But then I'm a fan of the '67/68 series, they have the styling flavour of the earlier cars but IMO drive somewhat better. :bolt: :pepper:
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Traveling is fine, just another cost to keep in mind. Some cars I have looked at would also need me to trailer them home due to not running or being unregistered for whatever reason. If I run into any cars I will post them up to see what others think.
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Also worth finding out what rego authorities in ACT require for different modifications. Eg rear disc brakes in SA require an engineers report.
This may be an additional cost with interstate cars.
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Photos looked great .
Bucket of crap when he went to pick it up from Adelaide
Car never went home with him.
What happened; straight to wreckers or was it seized for some reason?
s
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Local cars probably better value at the moment
https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/barellan-point/cars-vans-utes/65-ford-mustang/1167753784
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I bought both mine from interstate including the 68 I have for sale it takes time and a little bit of trust and some inspection but as they say everything is never perfect but that is part of the fun and excitement of owning these cars putting your own stamp on it and enjoying the ride
Cadd
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Local cars probably better value at the moment
https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/barellan-point/cars-vans-utes/65-ford-mustang/1167753784
Thanks man! I will check it out! I think something at that price is sure to go quickly if the body is any kind of decent, right? Also, are third party inspections any good with older cars like NRMA and Redbook?
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Thanks man! I will check it out! I think something at that price is sure to go quickly if the body is any kind of decent, right? Also, are third party inspections any good with older cars like NRMA and Redbook?
No, they won't know what to look for on these cars.
Much better to get someone who specialises in older cars to inspect.
I'll PM contact details for Kym in SA in case you need one looked at down here. He's the technical officer for MOCA here.
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No, they won't know what to look for on these cars.
Much better to get someone who specialises in older cars to inspect.
I'll PM contact details for Kym in SA in case you need one looked at down here. He's the technical officer for MOCA here.
Ahh figures. Well someone just linked a car in QLD.
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Put the link up, people may know the car.
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Its a pity that the photobucket dilemma has killed the photos of MustangPauls convertible, but i found the pre restoration shots on Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/9035539@N05/sets/72157626444724614/
This cars story should be compulsory reading for anyone planning on buying a project car from the USA. The scumbags who did this even jammed a piece of pine up a rusted out chassis rail, then bogged over it and splashed some paint to cover it up. This thing was a death trap.
Maybe someone more knowledgeable can find the original post with the restoration story
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Which car is this sorry?
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Which car is this sorry?
The photos on flickr show the underneath of the cream vert as it arrived in Australia.
It was bought as an almost finished restoration where the seller needed money.
Obviously that may have been a bit of a porky.
It since had an excellent restoration done in Rockhampton, but the Photobucket post has lost all the pictures.
The original resto story will be on here somewhere, but i havent found it yet.
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Paul imported from the US what looked like a good car, but it was actually a pile of rust, bog and wood.
The car is now nice, and he's broke.
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that is horrific, i would of thought not repairable with that much rust. :cry:
I have never bought a car site unseen, and will continue the same tradition.
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What happened; straight to wreckers or was it seized for some reason?
s
He traveled down from the Riverland with a mate ( also a cop which was probably helpful ) to pick it up. I’m only guessing it would of been put up for sale once he left it there. After a blast and respray !
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So since people prompted me to post cars I was considering up here for opinions how about this:
https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/Ford-Mustang-1969/SSE-AD-5009783/?_ga=2.28423807.233762229.1508390042-1332947767.1503644747&_gac=1.220527978.1512917383.Cj0KCQjwtpDMBRC4ARIsADhz5O5uBx5uRFqTVEcDGQAtG5gwm-UZw2zNmGYYmjW43p5KlacEBnutiqoaAlMJEALw_wcB
The guy reckons it's super straight, so thoughts? :smile01:
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Hi mate, I don't post very much but thought id chime in, have you any experience with restoring or working on old cars ? Are you able to do alot yourself? While I'm working on my first mustang at the moment its my 6th classic car project ( always been toranas an holdens ). That car is cheap/rough its going to run near twice your original budget once you get into it, cheap cars always look cheap unless you spend big money there is always a lot hidden in cars like this, not saying don't buy it, projects can be very rewarding but always, always always cost more than you expect. I've imported one car and bought others sight unseen, I agree with the above posts, look locally unless you've got someone like Barnett to trust o/s , best of luck with your search
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projects can be very rewarding but always, always always cost more than you expect.
Who said anything about a project? As long as it's mechanically A1 with no rust; drive it as it is.
I haven't done anything to the body or interior on my Torana since the 80's, lol. I get annoyed when people ask, 'when are you going to restore it?' lol
Having said that, I'd probably get new carpet for that one though. hahaha
s
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Valid point, my apologies , I guess it depends on how you want the car to look & drive will determine what you spend
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Re the '69 hardtop - is that rust damage I see along the RH gutter? It's very much a base model '69 with little going for it IMO. Overall a very scruffy car, owner may be saying it's 'super straight' but doesn't appear to have made any effort to present it for sale. The paint looks very weathered which means the car has been sitting outside a lot, so hardly a case of someone's pride and joy. Also the sunroof will detract from the car's value as that's not an easy thing to rectify. If I were you I'd keep looking.
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Valid point, my apologies , I guess it depends on how you want the car to look & drive will determine what you spend
Haha earthwalker, :thumb: I think your comments were spot on. However the ops budget doesn't provide a lot of wriggle room and he will be forced to consider cars like the one he attached the link to.
I brought and car that previous owner had spent serious coin on and have still spent plenty more.
So at the end of the day I suppose it all depends on what you are happy to drive around in. I mean some people are more than happy to drive around in a carpet less old Torana's that are probably worth $60K these days.
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So at the end of the day I suppose it all depends on what you are happy to drive around in. I mean some people are more than happy to drive around in a carpet less old Torana's that are probably worth $60K these days.
lol, my Torana still has decent carpet I installed back in 1984. I was saying that Mustang could use new carpet, hahaha.
Sure I could've restored my Torana but as mentioned it's a lot of coin and I figured I'm financially better off buying a Mustang restored and modded to a very nice condition. I love both my cars equally and if I had to sell both today, I made the right decision financially.
s
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I wouldn't bother with that 69 . For starters 69/70 coupes are not a sort after model here or in the USA ,65-68 only . It's a basic coupe also that needs a lot of work and if you want to resell it later, it's still a dud model . Spend a bit more and get a better car that has no rust problems and factory front disc brakes is alway a bonus . Keep looking and keep posting I say . Even if they are interstate others will or can look at them for you then give you a report before you make a decision . Rust is not your friend so keep away from rusty cars .
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lol, my Torana still has decent carpet I installed back in 1984. I was saying that Mustang could use new carpet, hahaha.
Sure I could've restored my Torana but as mentioned it's a lot of coin and I figured I'm financially better off buying a Mustang restored and modded to a very nice condition. I love both my cars equally and if I had to sell both today, I made the right decision financially.
s
Mate the Torana is appreciating by the minute. If I could have afforded a local 60's Ford muscle car in the same condition as my Mustang I would have taken it all day. Torana's are becoming more popular by the day.
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Torana's are becoming more popular by the day.
Yeah I know and I'm getting annoyed at constantly being asked if I want to sell. They all want to butcher it with flares, etc. and think they'll get it cheap.
I drove this car since high school and it's unlikely I'll sell it. Although it's non-original from radiator to diff, the body and interior are as I always remembered it and it's a trip down memory lane every time I drive it. It's good to know it's appreciating in value but also makes it more of a target for thieves.
s
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target for thieves.
Get a GPS tracker for it, they're cheap and the thieving bustards probably wouldn't expect it on your car.
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Get a GPS tracker for it, they're cheap and the thieving bustards probably wouldn't expect it on your car.
True but they can also steal pieces from it in situ. Side mirrors, etc. and you'd have to track it down within hours or it'll be totally stripped and dumped.
Of course your advice is good, better some tracking than nothing.
s
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So since people prompted me to post cars I was considering up here for opinions how about this:
https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/Ford-Mustang-1969/SSE-AD-5009783/?_ga=2.28423807.233762229.1508390042-1332947767.1503644747&_gac=1.220527978.1512917383.Cj0KCQjwtpDMBRC4ARIsADhz5O5uBx5uRFqTVEcDGQAtG5gwm-UZw2zNmGYYmjW43p5KlacEBnutiqoaAlMJEALw_wcB
The guy reckons it's super straight, so thoughts? :smile01:
hey Tim.
I start saying I'm not a big expert, way less than 99% of the people in this forum. Personally I would not touch that '69 in the ad you posted.
A couple of years ago I was more or less in the situation you are right now, I really wanted to buy a classic mustang because it has been always my dream but my budget was under $20k. I started to look at cars live and online and for that amount of money a lot of crap or dodgy cars came up. People saying "very straight car" with rust around or mechanically pretty bad or crazy work on the car.
At the end of the day I was going to spend way more than the forecast just to fix it, because I had to consider ALL the cost involved.
So I decided to set up a different budget and wait more time so I was able to save more money. Last May I bought a '64 V8, more expensive than the $20k originally planned but way better than the majority I saw around. Then I just spent around $5k in the last 6 months to fix very minor things (a very good tune up, full comprehensive service, new drum rear brakes, new steering wheel, rally pac)... So now I have a pretty straight car, very good to drive around on a daily basis.
My choice to wait a little bit more, and save more money to put into it, was the best thing I did (regarding the car obviously).
hope this help
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https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/Ford-Mustang-1969/SSE-AD-5009783/?_ga=2.28423807.233762229.1508390042-1332947767.1503644747&_gac=1.220527978.1512917383.Cj0KCQjwtpDMBRC4ARIsADhz5O5uBx5uRFqTVEcDGQAtG5gwm-UZw2zNmGYYmjW43p5KlacEBnutiqoaAlMJEALw_wcB (https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/Ford-Mustang-1969/SSE-AD-5009783/?_ga=2.28423807.233762229.1508390042-1332947767.1503644747&_gac=1.220527978.1512917383.Cj0KCQjwtpDMBRC4ARIsADhz5O5uBx5uRFqTVEcDGQAtG5gwm-UZw2zNmGYYmjW43p5KlacEBnutiqoaAlMJEALw_wcB)
Wouldn't touch any Mustang that had a sunroof hacked into it...
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So I decided to set up a different budget and wait more time so I was able to save more money.
I did exactly that, I was thinking of spending $25k but after doing the sums and waiting 2 years I finally pulled the trigger and it cost me around $40k landed. I've easily spent around $10k on it since.
Worth it!
s
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I did exactly that, I was thinking of spending $25k but after doing the sums and waiting 2 years I finally pulled the trigger and it cost me around $40k landed. I've easily spent around $10k on it since.
Worth it!
s
I can imagine was worth it.
the extra $5k I spent was because I decided to and I had the possibility to do that, car was good as it was when bought. For it I spent a little bit more than $30k, but in previous months I saw cars for sale at around $19/22k and needed big works on them... So I was going to spend at least an extra $12/15k (which I didn't have) to have it drivable, plus other $$$ for minor touches.
As said I'm not an expert, but IMHO someone has to spend an extra $10k on top of the $18900 for that '69 immediately after the purchase.
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IMHO someone has to spend an extra $10k on top of the $18900 for that '69 immediately after the purchase.
More like $20K when you figure in paint and bodywork.
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Who said anything about a project? As long as it's mechanically A1 with no rust; drive it as it is.
That is basically my thoughts right now. Like it doesn't look like much but he reckons it drives like new and there is 0 rust so why not just funnel money in over time making it look pretty?
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https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/Ford-Mustang-1969/SSE-AD-5009783/?_ga=2.28423807.233762229.1508390042-1332947767.1503644747&_gac=1.220527978.1512917383.Cj0KCQjwtpDMBRC4ARIsADhz5O5uBx5uRFqTVEcDGQAtG5gwm-UZw2zNmGYYmjW43p5KlacEBnutiqoaAlMJEALw_wcB (https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/Ford-Mustang-1969/SSE-AD-5009783/?_ga=2.28423807.233762229.1508390042-1332947767.1503644747&_gac=1.220527978.1512917383.Cj0KCQjwtpDMBRC4ARIsADhz5O5uBx5uRFqTVEcDGQAtG5gwm-UZw2zNmGYYmjW43p5KlacEBnutiqoaAlMJEALw_wcB)
Wouldn't touch any Mustang that had a sunroof hacked into it...
Fair point
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Thanks for the replies, I will give it some thought! :smile01:
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Thanks for the replies, I will give it some thought! :smile01:
just to give you an idea, from a personal experience.
beginning of this year I found on carsales a '65 red mustang coupe with vinyl top. From pictures and description looked amazing and price was $25000, so I decided to go down and inspect in person the car and I found:
- some rust bubbles size 10/20 cent piece on LH door.
- some rust bubbles same size on RH door.
- 2 rust bubbles 4x5cm under an average conditions vinyl top.
- extra amber indicators bolted on the rear panel close to red taillights.
- engine and engine bay were pretty good.
- interiors needed some work.
I asked around quotes for repairing those rust spots, and the cheapest quote I had was around $10,000... For sure I did not buy the car.
This to say that you need to do some maths and speak with a lot of persons (mechanics, panel beaters, etc.) so you can have the full picture of what you are going to spend.
I would suggest, for a good first generation mustang coupe consider a purchasing budget of $26/32k, plus $3k of extras.
You could be lucky and maybe you will find someone rushing to sell and price tag is less than that.
For sure if you want a convertible or fastback you have to add extra $$$...
More experienced persons on this forum can give you better and more precise information.
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it doesn't look like much but he reckons it drives like new and there is 0 rust
Make sure you have someone inspect it before you lay any money down. You may even find someone from this forum local to the car willing to do it if you ask nicely, I advise starting a new thread to alert anyone interested in doing that for you; be sure to throw in a slab or two for their efforts.
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Like it doesn't look like much but he reckons it drives like new
He has gotta be taking the p15s
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he reckons there is 0 rust
Pics 1 & 2 above the passenger (right hand) side drip rails. Is that spots of rust I can see?
If he's lying about the rust he's lying about everything else.
Has he ever driven a new 69 Mustang to know what they drive like? If not, he's full of shit.
Also it looks rather worn for a car with 10km on the odometer.
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in the ad he says "The body is very clean with all original panels and very little rust."
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in the ad he says "The body is very clean with all original panels and very little rust."
OK, let's pick it apart (Barnett, where are you?):
- As StephenSLR noted, there are two biggish rust spots and a long line of rust on the RHS roof at the drip rail
- Also what looks very much like a rust spot on the front bottom of the passenger door
- The previously mentioned '80s style cheapie pop up sunroof really hurts the originality
- Stainless trim moldings missing from the front edge of the bonnet and inner headlight buckets
- Rear bumper sagging at both ends and also twisted at the LH end
- Looks like a rust spot on the RHS bottom edge of the rear window surround
- 'T' is missing from the MUSTANG lettering on the boot
- Rear valance doesn't fit properly on the RHS
- Front bumper wraps around at a weird angle at the RHS end
- Large gap at rear edge of bonnet
- Surface rust on bonnet
- No windscreen washer bottle or associated piping in engine bay
- No radiator shroud
- Power steering but only manual brakes (so most likely drums all round)
- Surface rust on some engine bay components
- Splits/tears in driver's seat
- Brake pedal pad is toast
- Dash pad is split
- Hate those wheels!
None of these is a deal breaker as long as the rest of the car is clean and straight and you go into it with your eyes wide open and figure out how much money you will have to pour into it in the long run to finish it how you want.
The sunroof and crappy paint would be a deal breaker for me because that's at least $15K right there unless of course you're happy with the way it looks now... :bolt:
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OK, let's pick it apart (Barnett, where are you?):
- As StephenSLR noted, there are two biggish rust spots and a long line of rust on the RHS roof at the drip rail
- Also what looks very much like a rust spot on the front bottom of the passenger door
- The previously mentioned '80s style cheapie pop up sunroof really hurts the originality
- Stainless trim moldings missing from the front edge of the bonnet and inner headlight buckets
- Rear bumper sagging at both ends and also twisted at the LH end
- Looks like a rust spot on the RHS bottom edge of the rear window surround
- 'T' is missing from the MUSTANG lettering on the boot
- Rear valance doesn't fit properly on the RHS
- Front bumper wraps around at a weird angle at the RHS end
- Large gap at rear edge of bonnet
- Surface rust on bonnet
- No windscreen washer bottle or associated piping in engine bay
- No radiator shroud
- Power steering but only manual brakes (so most likely drums all round)
- Surface rust on some engine bay components
- Splits/tears in driver's seat
- Brake pedal pad is toast
- Dash pad is split
- Hate those wheels!
None of these is a deal breaker as long as the rest of the car is clean and straight and you go into it with your eyes wide open and figure out how much money you will have to pour into it in the long run to finish it how you want.
The sunroof and crappy paint would be a deal breaker for me because that's at least $15K right there unless of course you're happy with the way it looks now... :bolt:
Thanks for the effort! Like you said, none of those are deal breakers but I will obviously be inspecting the car with these things in mind.
In regards to what everyone else said. I can only tell you what I was told, because that's all I know haha. I definitely did not think spot rust was that expensive, same with painting.
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I definitely did not think spot rust was that expensive, same with painting.
Rust tends to be like icebergs - what you can see will only be 10% of what's lurking under the surface. That's why body shops quote high for that kind of work to cover their rear ends.
I am reliably informed that you'll struggle to get any change out of $15K for a halfway decent paint job and that's starting with a clean, straight body that doesn't need rust repair. My best guess is you'd have at least $40K sunk into that particular car by the time you got it painted and that's without any work on mechanicals or the interior.
As others have said, it's usually best to wait until you can increase your budget to include better cars that will cost you less in the long run. Of course that shouldn't stop you from looking for that needle in a haystack, just be very careful before you hand over any cash...
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Rust tends to be like icebergs - what you can see will only be 10% of what's lurking under the surface. That's why body shops quote high for that kind of work to cover their rear ends.
I am reliably informed that you'll struggle to get any change out of $15K for a halfway decent paint job and that's starting with a clean, straight body that doesn't need rust repair. My best guess is you'd have at least $40K sunk into that particular car by the time you got it painted and that's without any work on mechanicals or the interior.
As others have said, it's usually best to wait until you can increase your budget to include better cars that will cost you less in the long run. Of course that shouldn't stop you from looking for that needle in a haystack, just be very careful before you hand over any cash...
Well the explains the insane prices I guess...
Naturally I would ask for opinions and get it checked either by someone else or myself before buying. (: Thanks!
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As another has pointed out above, the '69/70 coupes are one of the least popular of the early Mustangs. Even if you got it for $10K you'd easily spend another $40K+++ to make it nice - I'm not talking concours, just 'nice' - even doing some of the work yourself, and by then you would have over-capitalized and if you decided to sell for any reason you might have a hard time moving it. Given the state of that car and the fact that you don't know your Mustangs let alone how to fix them I strongly recommend you give it a wide berth. Just the fact that numerous defects are apparent in the photos should be enough to warn you off. Bide your time, keep saving and go for one of the early coupes that are the most popular.
PS. you do NOT want to be dealing with a rusty roof, let alone an '80's era sunroof; I think that car will need a new roof grafted on at some point, and that's a major!
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I think I agree with most of the previous comments, but buying an old car is a very personal thing.
I started out just wanting a Mustang, but after looking for a while I decided to pay more money for something that had already been restored.
Also in my case I wanted to buy something that I could enjoy but would be worth more money when I decided to sell it. I think you have to buy wisely if you want to make money on your car.
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I think you have to buy wisely if you want to make money on your car.
The happiest car owners are the ones who buy the cars they like, not the cars they expect to make money on.
It's a car ffs, although I do totally understand the appeal of making money on a car, it's not my motivation for owning one. I expect their value to die in the arse when electric cars take over so those that want to make money should sell before that happens.
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The happiest car owners are the ones who buy the cars they like, not the cars they expect to make money on.
It's a car ffs, although I do totally understand the appeal of making money on a car, it's not my motivation for owning one. I expect their value to die in the arse when electric cars take over so those that want to make money should sell before that happens.
I have a slightly different spin on the situation: I have an agreement with my better half that I'm allowed to keep feeding my classic car habit as long as I don't lose money when I turn them over. Happy to report that so far I am in compliance with my contract... :thumb:
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:agree:
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The happiest car owners are the ones who buy the cars they like, not the cars they expect to make money on.
It's a car ffs, although I do totally understand the appeal of making money on a car, it's not my motivation for owning one. I expect their value to die in the arse when electric cars take over so those that want to make money should sell before that happens.
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Why would the value of classic cars drop with the introduction of electric vehicles? I am interested in your logic.
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The happiest car owners are the ones who buy the cars they like, not the cars they expect to make money on.
I probably didn't make myself clear. I always loved the shape of the 67 - 68 Fastbacks, but instead of buying a base model car for less momey, I opted to keep looking until I found a factory GT S code.
This allowed me to enjoy a car that I always wanted for 5 years and sell it for $18K more than I paid for it.
I also don't see classic cars becoming cheaper with more electric cars coming onto our roads unless somehow Sarah Hanson-Young becomes Prime Minister who then bans all non electric vehicles from our roads.
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Why would the value of classic cars drop with the introduction of electric vehicles? I am interested in your logic.
Look at the prices of vintage cars these days, the ones with wooden wheels.
I think that the ultra rare models, race specials, cars with provenance will still hold some value but not as much. Our generation will get older and look at what cars the kids are favouring today, those will be the models most in demand in the future.
When electric motors take over I suspect petrol will become more expensive as petrol stations close down and many will restomod their old cars with electric engines. It's all about moving with the times.
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I wouldn't care if petrol was $10 a litre i would still find the money to fill up the 289 before i could ever drive an electric car as a classic.
bit like cigarettes, people will still pay $200 dollars a carton if they enjoy a smoke.
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I wouldn't care if petrol was $10 a litre i would still find the money to fill up the 289 before i could ever drive an electric car as a classic, bit like cigarettes, people will still pay $200 dollars a carton if they enjoy a smoke.
Yeah true but you are one of the rare ones. After seeing this Mustang I wouldn't say no to throwing in an electric motor if it performed like this. Mine doesn't have original engine, it's a C code so I'm not that precious about originality.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAwIsKC7ROQ
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Yeah true but you are one of the rare ones. After seeing this Mustang I wouldn't say no to throwing in an electric motor if it performed like this. Mine doesn't have original engine, it's a C code so I'm not that precious about originality.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAwIsKC7ROQ
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http://www.mustangandfords.com/featured-vehicles/1504-this-electric-1968-ford-mustang-kicks-out-a-shocking-800-hp/
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All the above comments are sensible advice to the OP but the strand is getting off track. The OP is wanting to get into the Mustang scene for the first time but limiting himself to $25K or less which as a budget makes his options very constricted, and, not wishing to be rude, but I think it's unrealistic. The simple reality is that the cheaper the car one finds the more $$$ one is going to have to throw at it subsequently, probably sooner than later; that coupe he posted a link to is a good example as it needs a whole lot done up front. It makes better financial sense to up the budget and buy a good condition sound driving car in the first place. Personally I'd be off to the bank for a small loan of a few $Ks more and taking a serious look at that '68 coupe for sale by one of the forum members on here.
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Personally I'd be off to the bank for a small loan of a few $Ks more and taking a serious look at that '68 coupe for sale by one of the forum members on here.
Think that one got sold...
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The OP is wanting to get into the Mustang scene for the first time but limiting himself to $25K or less which as a budget makes his options very constricted, and, not wishing to be rude, but I think it's unrealistic.
How about one of the early 70's Mustangs (71-73)? I think there'd be better bang for buck with those or even a 6 cylinder, those tend to be cheaper too.
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On carsales there is a ‘72 mustang at $21000 (QLD) and a ‘66 mustang at $25000 (WA)
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On carsales there is a ‘72 mustang at $21000 (QLD)
I'd rather that 72 over the OP any day.
(https://carsales.pxcrush.net/carsales/car/private/cp4827221389762903639.jpg?pxc_method=fit&pxc_size=1197%2c798)
(https://carsales.pxcrush.net/carsales/car/private/cp4962531548342827510.jpg?pxc_method=fit&pxc_size=1197%2c798)
https://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Ford-Mustang-1972/SSE-AD-4862167/?Cr=9
For a few extra grand there's this which also presents much better than the OP:
(https://carsales.pxcrush.net/carsales/car/private/cp5218850263318597415.jpg?pxc_method=fit&pxc_size=1197%2c798)
Good luck with bargaining him down to $25k
https://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Ford-Mustang-1969/SSE-AD-4738010/?Cr=26
I'd rather set a 30k budget and try bargaining down a few advertised at just over.
If you're patient something much better than the OP will come up.
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All the above comments are sensible advice to the OP but the strand is getting off track. The OP is wanting to get into the Mustang scene for the first time but limiting himself to $25K or less which as a budget makes his options very constricted, and, not wishing to be rude, but I think it's unrealistic. The simple reality is that the cheaper the car one finds the more $$$ one is going to have to throw at it subsequently, probably sooner than later; that coupe he posted a link to is a good example as it needs a whole lot done up front. It makes better financial sense to up the budget and buy a good condition sound driving car in the first place. Personally I'd be off to the bank for a small loan of a few $Ks more and taking a serious look at that '68 coupe for sale by one of the forum members on here.
Thanks for all the advice despite how off topic some of it was. Yeah it's unrealistic for right now, but like was said very early I am not gonna rush into it unless it's a nice car that someone is urgently getting rid of. My budget will increase over time as I can save more and more. I don't want or need to take any money from a bank, as the budget will increase anyway.
Also worth noting, I am not looking for the absolute cleanest example and don't plan to take it to shows etc. This car is very much more of a learning experience hence the low budget. I have worked on cars for a while now and just want an experience on an older car to see how it stacks up with the newer ones.
Daily driver that I can spend money on over time to make it look pretty. Incorporating the skills I already to learn new ones. That's kinda the idea.
I was looking at the 70+ but something about the roof going into the rear and the rear in general I don't like. I understand that this means limiting my options even more but it's like a bunch of you said, the most popular are the 64-68s. I believe StephenSLR said it best
The happiest car owners are the ones who buy the cars they like, not the cars they expect to make money on.
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Thanks again for the advice everyone (:
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Also worth noting, I am not looking for the absolute cleanest example and don't plan to take it to shows etc.
Just to let you know, not all shows are about the 'cleanest example'. Many are just get-togethers and you often get 'survivors' showing up.
My car's not a daily driver and I prefer meets and cruises to get the blood flowing. They're informal, you don't have to stick around long, you get invaluable advice from others just like you do here and it's easier to absorb when they're pointing to the parts while telling you what they did, etc.
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Just wait and keep looking as one will turn up .
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Just to let you know, not all shows are about the 'cleanest example'. Many are just get-togethers and you often get 'survivors' showing up.
My car's not a daily driver and I prefer meets and cruises to get the blood flowing. They're informal, you don't have to stick around long, you get invaluable advice from others just like you do here and it's easier to absorb when they're pointing to the parts while telling you what they did, etc.
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Oh well I meant like formal car shows. Car meets happen all the time where I am and I would probably take a mustang there anyday due to the the lack of them in this city.
Yeah very true!
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Well to kinda reboot this thread a bit how about this
https://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Ford-Mustang-1966/SSE-AD-5163292/?Cr=19
I just kinda saw it when considering what car I was actually gonna buy. Over Christmas however I secured myself a great job working for the government which means I will have to buy a car for daily transport making my decision a bit of a rushed one. This one looks a fair bit more tidy than the last one. The only thing that stands out is the hood ornament I have never seen and the exhaust mounted like that. Thoughts? (:
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This one looks a fair bit more tidy than the last one. The only thing that stands out is the hood ornament I have never seen and the exhaust mounted like that. Thoughts? (:
- Hood ornament is cheesy (personal taste)
- Aftermarket front grille
- Don't like the chrome/stainless trim at the rear painted over (personal taste)
- Engine block is painted orange/red (personal taste)
- Car may have been lowered (King springs box in trunk pic)
- Front bumper doesn't appear to be mounted straight/square (could just be camera distortion)
- LHS trunk shut line is not great
- Seat inserts look dodgy
- Slight warp in dash pad on driver's side
- Shifter obviously isn't original
- Would guess floors have been replaced at some stage as they look too new/clean
- LHS front frame rail looks pretty beat up
- Lots of dents in the transmission pan
- Not sure what that red cable is running along the LHS of the transmission tunnel
- Obviously a 302 is not the original engine in a '66
Hard to tell the condition of the paint from the photos but if the seller is volunteering that it's not showroom then probably pretty ordinary (looks like an issue on LHS C pillar). Looks to be more solid than that '69 coupe but hard to tell how good just from those pics.
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Well lowering isn't too much of an issue. He does claim it has shocks and a B&M shifter. Mmm I have had bad experiences with engine swapped cars in the past.
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Lowering by itself is not necessarily an issue - just something to be aware of if you have the car inspected to make sure it's been done right.
Engine swap from a 289 to a 302 isn't a big deal unless you're keen on an original drivetrain. The paint colour on the engine block would have to go back to Ford blue though if I was buying it. :thumb:
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Yeah I wanted to get it inspected anyway before I commit heavy on it.
Well again, unless it's done incorrectly. And yeah dw it would if I buy it
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The regulations for importing used and new foreign cars, motorcycles, scooters and other non-commercial vehicles into Australia are quite strict. Importing a non-commercial vehicle can be a costly affair because of the heavy customs duties imposed by the central government. They must also be tested for compliance with the government’s requirements. You might want to check ACC customs clearance agents (https://aucustomsclearance.com.au/customs-broker-brisbane) in Brisbane to help you with your shipment.
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yup - no stress other than expect to be slugged a little more "just 'cos"